Can body making machine with yieldable seam assembly elements



Aug. 14, 1951 Filed Jan. 26, 1949 A. E. ADAMSON CAN BODY MAKING MACHINE WITH YIELDABLE SEAM ASSEMBLY ELEMENTS 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ALAN [WA/Q7" ADA/1450A! Aug. 14, 1951 A. E. ADAMSON 2,563,305

CAN BODY MAKING MACHINE WITH YIELDABLE SEAM ASSEMBLY ELEMENTS Filed Jan. 26, 1949 *3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR, /lL/7/V 5144487 ADAMSO/V KZM yam Dim 0 Aime/Er Aug. 14, 1951 A. E. ADAMSON CAN BODY MAKING MACHINE WITH YIELDABLE SEAM ASSEMBLY ELEMENTS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 26, 1949 0 1 4 0/. g1 4 "m7 fi M 6 M 6 leg fl 0 D a;

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H M R.5 m m N D E w N i e w M Q 5 A C Y M. d B 1 7 a 4 g 0 7 fi o 0 V, ,H f fl 4Z7 4 4 7 W Patented Aug. 14, 1951 CAN BODY MAKING MACHINE WITH YIELD- ABLE SEAM ASSEMBLY ELEMENTS Alan Ewart Adamson, Vancouver, British Colum bra, Canada, assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 26, 1949, Serial No. 72,826

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to a, can body making machine and has particular reference to improved devices for interengaging the side seam hooks of a partially formed can body during the forming of the body side seam.

In some respects this invention is a refinement and improvement of the type of can body making machine disclosed in United States Patent 1,770,641 issued July 8, 1930 to J. F. Peters on Roll Bodymaker.

An object of the invention is the provision in a can body making machine of improved side seam assembling device which are simple in construction and which eliminate several heavy movable parts heretofore thought necessary, while greatly increasing the efiiciency of the machine.

Another object is the provision of such seam assembling devices which reduce the cost of machine production and also reduces the maintenance of machine operation. I

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which,

taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the side seam assembly portion of a can body making machine embodying the instant invention, with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, the view being taken from the opposite side of the machine, with parts broken away;

Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are enlarged detail views of certain parts of the side seam assembly devices. Fig. 5 showing one of the parts in perspective and Figs. 3, 4 and 6 showing fragmentary views of the others;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken sub stantially along the line in Fig. 1, with parts broken away; and

Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 are enlarged sectional views taken substantialy along the broken line 88 in Fig. 2, with parts broken away, the views showing certain of the parts in their different positions during the different stages of. forming the side seam of a can body.

As a preferred and exemplary embodiment of the instant invention the drawings disclose principal parts of the side seam assembly or bumping station of a can body making machine of the type disclosed in the above mentioned Peters Patent 1,770,041. In such a machine a partially formed tubular sheet metal can body A (Figs. 1,

. 2 7 and 8) having an outwardly bent inner side seam hook B and an inwardly bent outer side seam hook C is formed on a support or mandrel 2| and advanced therealong in a step-by-step or intermittent manner through a plurality of stations at which the various sideseam hook form ing operations are performed on the body.

The advancement of the can body A is ffected by reciprocable feed bars 23 (Figs. 1, 7 and 8 having spaced spring held feed dogs 24. The feed bars operate in longitudinal grooves 25 formed in the mandrel 2| and are reciprocated in any. suitable manner such as that disclosed in the. above mentioned Peters patent. Pressure pads 26 carried in guide rails 21 disposed adjacent the mandrel 2| and supported on curved holders 28 frictionally hold the can body in place against return with the feed dogs after an advancement. During advancement of the can body, its side seam edges ride in tracks 29 (Fig. 7) which keep these edges spread apart to facilitate the usual operations which result in the formation of the hooks B, C.

In order to interengage the side seam hooks B,- C for the usual seaming operation, opposed side wall portions of the can body are first pressed inwardly to arrange the side seam edge portions in overlapping relation. The side wall portions of the can body then are slightly expanded to bring the hooks together. For this purpose the mandrel 2|, at the side seam assembly station, terminates in an inwardly tapered shoulder 32 which merges into a reduced diameter expanding mandrel 33 (Figs. 1, 2, 8, 9, 10 and 11) The expanding mandrel 33 is similar to the expanding mandrel disclosed in the above mentioned Peters patent and includes a pair of eX-. padding cheeks 34 (Fig. 8) which at the proper time are spread apart by a wedge bar 35 to expand the can body. The wedge bar is similar to that shown in the Peters patent and it is actuated by a rocker lever 36 (Fig. 1) also disclosed in the same patent.

In the instant invention, compression of the sides of the can body as mentioned above is effected preferably by a plurality of stationary flat springs or yieldable or flexible pressure members 4| (Figs. 1, 2 and 8). There are four of these members shown in the drawings and they are ar ranged around the upper half of the expanding mandrel 33. These 'members or springs extend longitudinally of the mandrel. One of the ends of the springs are secured or anchored to the guide rails 21, or to any other suitable adjacent stationary part of the machine, while the 0p-- '3 posite ends are free and normally engage against the checks of the expanding mandrel 33 under pressure. If desired these springs may be made of the laminated typeto produce the required pressure on the sides'of the can body.

Adjacent the lower halfof the mandrel 33 wall portions of the can body are pressed inwardly by a pair of pivotally mounted fingers or pressure elements 43, 44 (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8). The finger 43 is disclosed under the expanding mandrel 33 closely adjacent a bumping iron 45 located in the bottom of the mandrel. Intermediate its ends, the finger 43 is mounted on a pivot pin 46 (Fig. 3) secured in a laterally extending bracket 41 of the adjacent guide rail 21- or other suitable stationary part of the machine (see Fig. 7).

Toward the left of the pivot pin 45, as viewed" in Fig. 3, a compression spring 48 is interposed between the bracket 41 and the tail end of thefinger. This spring maintains the opposite or free end of the finger under pressure and. in engagement with the bumping iron at of. the expanding mandrel 33. An adjustable stop screw 59 secured in a' lug 58' of the bracket 4"! is provided adjacent the" free end' of the finger to limit the outward travel of the finger during the expansion of the body as will'be hereinafter explained.

The finger 44 is located adjacent'thecheek 3d of'theexpanding mandrelsii on the side of: the

mandrel opposite the finger 33. The finger M is preferably disposed in the middle of. the lower quadrant of the mandrel and is slightly spaced away from the mandrel cheek 34 to hold the lower portion of this side of the can body in spaced relation to the mandrel as best shown in Fig. 8. This finger M intermediate its ends, is mounted on a pivot pin 52 (Fig. 4') carried in a bracket 53 formed on the adjacent guide rail 21 (see also Fig. '7) or other suitable stationary part of the machine. 7

The tail end of the finger 44, toward the rig-ht as viewed in Fig. 4, is maintained under pressure of a compression spring 54 which is interposed between the bracket 53 and the finger 44. The outdward travel of the tail end of the finger, when no can body is in place on the mandrel, is limited by an adjustable stop screw 55 which is secured in a lug 55 that extends outwardly from the bracket 53 (see Fig. 4).

Hence when a can body A, with its side seam hooks B, C'spread apart as shown in Fig. 7, is advanced along the mandrel 2 l (in the direction ofthe arrow in Figs. I and 2) into the side'seam' assembly station, it passes over the tapered shoulder 32 f the mandrel and engages against the springs 41 and the fingers 43, A l adjacent the expanding mandrel 53. As the body advances, the springs 4| compress or force its side walls or wall portions inwardly against the expanding mandrel 33. The tapered shoulder 32 controls this compression of the body walls and permits ofa gradual easy compression, and thus prevents displacement or flux or other substance carried on the seam hooks B, C.

Simultaneously with this comressing action, the side seam edge of the body having the outwardly bent hook Brides against the finger 43' and is thus compressed against the lower portion of the expanding mandrel and is held against the bumping iron' as best shown in Fig. 8. The opposite side of the body simultaneously engages. the finger M and this finger forces the body wall inwardly but only to a limited extent and holds this portion of the body in spaced relation to the expanding mandrel 33 so that 4 the side seam edge having the inwardly bent hook C overlaps in spaced relation the outwardly bent hook B as shown in Fig. 8.

When the can body B is fully advanced into the assembly station, it comes to rest, and the advancing stroke or feed bars 23 move back through their usual return stroke. The can bodyis then in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 8. In order to insure free movement of the sides of the. body toward. and against the expanding mandrel 33, the faces of the foremost feed dogs 24 are tapered inwardly as best shown in Fig. 6. With such. a-tapered. or receding feeding face on each dog, the contacting edge of the can body moves away and is free of the dogs as soon as the side walls of the body are compressed by the springs 4!. Thus there is no dragging of the can body along the feeding face of the dogs.

'Withthe can body A thus at rest on the expanding mandrel 33, it is ready for the interengaging of the side seam hooks, B, C and the. closing of the seam This seaming operation. iseffecte'd-by the usual vertically movable bumping hammer. E! which is located under the ex panding mandrel 33' and. which is actuated. in time with the other moving parts of'the machine as disclosed in the above mentioned Peters patent.

In the instant invention, the bumping hammer 6! is provided witha lifter pador instrumentality 52 (Figs. 2, 5 and 8) which is formed. on. a slide stem 63 disposed in a vertical slideway 64 (Figs. 2 and 8) formed in one side of the: bumping hammer 64. The pad is held in place by a friction plate 616 which is secured to the bumping'hammer and which frictionally engages against the stem 63 of the lifter pad to hold the latter in any position it may be placed. A lu '67 (see also Fig. 5) projecting from the pad stem 63 is engageable: with a stationary resetting membertB (Fig; 8)

\ formed on an adjacent part of the machine. Thenormal position of the lifter pad 62' is'thatshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 9 in which the pad extends abovethe upper'face of the bumping hammer.

Hence when the bumping hammer 6| moves up toward the expanding mandrel 33, through a seaming or bumping stroke, the lifter pad 62 is carried upwardly with the hammer. During this upward stroke of th bumping hammer, the lifter pad 62 engages against the suspended side seam portion of the can body adjacent the inwardly bent hook C as best shown in Fig. 9. As the bumpinghammer continues to move upward, the lifter pad 62, moving with it, forces the hook C upwardly in a radial direction against the. already positioned side seam edge adjacent the hook B as shown in Fig. 10 and thusbrings the hooks B, C into lateral alignment. During this lifting of the hook C, the portion of the body side wall is forced inwardly against the mandrel 33 by the continued pressure of the finger 44 against'thisbody wall until the tail end of the finger engages its stop screw 55. Thiskeeps the hooks B, C spaced apart as shown in Fig. 10.

At this stage in the cycle of operation of the machine, the cheeks 34 of the expandin mandrei 33 move outwardly under the action of the wedge bar 35 as disclosed in the Peters patent, and this action expands the can body to its full size and also shifts the hooks B; C laterally into inter'engagement. This expanding of the body takes place while the" bumping hammer BI continues to move up toward the-mandrel and while the springs 4| and the fingers 43, 44 are holding the body under spring pressure. During this port Qn 0f the upstroke of the hammer, the lifter pad 62 remains stationary since it has raised the body hook C as far as it will go. However the hammer continues to move up and when the cheeks 34 are fully expanded, the hammer engages the interengaged hooks B, C and squeezes them tightly against the bumpin iron 45 in the mandrel as shown in Fig. 11. This bumping action is usual in the formation of the side seam of a can body and effects an interfolding orinterlocking of the hooks B, C which-result in a uniting side seam E (Fig. 11). This completes the interengagin and locking together of the side seam hooks B, C.

After bumping of the seam hooks B, C, the cheeks 34 of the expanding mandrel 33 are contracted to permit further advancement of the can body for subsequent operations. As the cheeks 34 contract, the bumping hammer 6| moves down to its original lowered position. Durin this down travel, the lug 61 on the lifter pad 62 engages the stationary resetting element 68 as shown in Fig. 8 and thus arrests further downward movement of the lifter pad with the hammer. In this manner the hammer is caused to move down to a level below the lifter pad and in so doing it resets the lifter pad in the position shown in Fig. 9 for thenext cycle of operation on the next following can body .A.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from I the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a can body making machin and the like, the combination of a can body mandrel for supporting apartially formed can body having separated side seam hooks, said mandrel having a reduced section; yieldable elements adjacent said reduced section of the mandrel and mounted in supports fixed relative to the direction of motion of said can body, said elements engagin the walls of said body to bring them into engagement and general conformity of shape with said reduced section of the mandrel, and to brin said side seam hooks into adjacently spaced and aligned position; feeding means including a stroke bar disposed adjacent said mandrel; a feed dog mounted on said stroke bar for advancing said body along said mandrel and into engagement with said yieldable elements, said feed dog hav ing an inwardly receding" feeding face, .the ad vanced and outermost portion of said receding face engaging an edge of the body during said movement of' the body along the mandrel, the inward portion of said receding face being thus spaced rearwardly from the edge of the body so that said edge moves out of contact with said face when said yieldable means urge the sides of the body inwardly against said reduced section of the mandrel; and means for interfolding said positioned hooks to produce a side seam for the body.

2. In a machine for making one piece cylindrical can bodies and the like, the combination of a cylindrical can body mandrel for supporting a partially formed one piece cylindrical can body having separated side seam hooks, said mandrel having a reduced cylindrical expansible section, feeding means disposed adjacent said mandrel for advancing said partially formed can body therealong and onto said reduced section,

a plurality of elongated yieldable pressure fingers. disposed at spaced intervals around saidreduoedsection, each of said fingers being mounted in a support fixed relative to the mandrel and ex-.:

tending from its support substantially in the direction of movement of said bodies and convergll'lg toward said reduced section with its free end disposed in the path of said moving bodies for engaging and gradually reducing the Walls of said partially formed can body into substantial conformity with the cylindrical shape and. dimensions of a finished can body, with one side seam hook in radially spaced and overlapped relation to the other, as the body is adavnced into side seam forming position on said reduced section; means disposed adjacent said reduced section for pressing said spaced and overlapping hooks into interengaging alignment with each other, expanding means in said reduced section for cylindrically-expanding the walls of said body to inter engage said hooks, and means disposed adjacent said reduced section for pressing said interengaged hooks into an interfolded side seam for the body. r

3. In a machine for making one piece cylindrical can bodies and the like, the combination of a cylindrical can body mandrel having a diameter greater than the diameter of a finished can body for supporting a'partially formed one piece cylindrical can body having side seam hooks with said hooks separated and spread apart, said mandrel having a reduced cylindrical expansible section, feeding means disposed adjacent said mandrel for advancing said partially formed can body therealong and onto said reduced section, a plurality of elongated flat springs disposed at spaced intervals around the portion of said reduced section opposite the side seam forming por tion of said section, each of said springsbeingmounted in a support fixed relative" to the mandrel and extending from its support substantially in the direction of movement of said bodies and converging toward said reduced section with its free end disposed in the path of said moving bodies for engaging and gradually reducing the portion of the partially formed can body opposite the side seam forming portion of the reduced section into general conformity with the shape and dimensions of that portion of a finished can body as the body is advanced into position on said sec tion, means disposed adjacent the side seam forming portion of said reduced section. and-cooperating with said flat springs to position said side seam hooks in radially spaced an overlapped relation as the body is advanced into position on said reduced section and before interengagement of said hooks, means also disposed adjacent the side seam forming portion of said reduced section for pressing said spaced and overlapping hooks into interengaging alignment with each other, expanding means in said reduced section for cylindrically expanding the walls of said body to interengage said hooks, and a seam bumping device-disposed adjacent said reduced section for pressing said interengaged hooks into an interfolded side seam for the body.

4. In a machine for making one piece cylindrical can bodies and the like, the combination of a cylindrical can body mandrel having a diameter greater than the diameter of a finished can body for supporting a partially formed one piece cylindrical can body having side seam hooks with siad hooks separated and spread apart, said mandrel having a reduced cylindrical expansible and converging toward. said reduced section with its; free end disposed in the path of said moving bodies for engaging and gradually reducing the portion of the-partially formed can body opposite thesideseam forming portion of the reduced section intogeneral conformity with the shape and dimensions of that portion of a finished canbody as the bodyis advanced into position on, said section, means; disposed adjacent the side seamiorming portion. of said reduced section and cooperating. with said first mentioned yieldable pressure fingers to position saidside seam. hooks. inradiallyspaced and overlapped relation as the body is advanced into position on. said reduced section and before interengagement of said hooks, means also disposed adjacent the side seam form ing portion. of. said reduced, section for pressing saidspaced and overlapping hooks. into interengagingalignment with each. other, expanding. means in said reduced section. for cylindrically expandingthe walls of saidv body to interengage said. hooks, andaseam bumping device disposed adjacent said reduced section for pressing said interengaged hooks into aninterfolded side seam for the body.. 7

5.. In a machinev for making one. piece. cylindricalcan bodies and the like, the combinationv of a cylindrical can body mandrel having a diameter greater than. the diameter of a finished canbody fonsupporting apartially formed one piece cylindrical can body having inner and outer side seam hookswith said hooks separated and spread. apart, said mandrel having a reduced. cylindrical expamible: section, feeding means disposed adjacentsaid. mandrelv for advancing saidv partial-1y: formed canv body therealong and onto said re.- duced. section, a plurality of pressure members located at spaced intervals around the portion of said reduced section opposite the side seam portion of. said section for engaging and holding the portion of the partially formed can'body opposite the; side seam. forming portion. of the reduced-section against the mandrel, yieldablepressure fingers disposed adjacent the side seam. forming portion of. said reduced section, each of said fingers being mounted in. a support fixed relative to; the mandrel. and extending from. its support substantially in the direction of move mentof said bodies and converging toward. said reducedsectionwith. its free end disposed in the path of said moving bodies, one of'saidfingers' having a free end disposed in the path of travel of the-body wall contiguous to'theinner side seam hook of said body for pressing said hook against said reduced section as the body advances into place onsaidsection, and another of said fingers having its free; end; radially spaced. from; said. sectionand. disposedin the path or travel of the. body wall, contiguous to the: outer side seam. hook: for engaging and holding said: hook. inqspaced. and overlappedv relationtosaid inner. side. seam;

hook, means disposed adjacent-said. reduced section for pressing said spaced and overlapping;

hooks into. interengaging alignment. with each: other, expanding means insaid reduced section. for cylindrically expanding the wal'lsof saidbody tointerengage said hooks, and a seam. bumping:-

device disposed adjacent said'reduced section, for.

pressing said interengaged hooks intoraninter folded side seam for the body.

6. In a can body making machine and the-dike, the; combination of a mandrel, for a partially formed tubular can body having side seam'hooks, feeding means. for advancing said can. body along said; mandreL. yieldable elongated fingers, each: mounted on a fixed support in'the machine; and with its. freeend extending into the path of themoving can bodies. for reducing the walls of thebody into. substantial conformity with the shape and dimensions 0151a finished canbody a free endportion of-one' of said fingers engaging a said. body for holdingv one. of its. hooks against said mandrel, and a-free end portion of another'of said:

fingers being disposed adjacentsaidmandrel in: spaced relation. thereto for holding the: other; of said hooks in radially spaced and overlapped relation tosaid first mentioned-hook, a bumping,

hammer disposed adjacent. said; mandrel, means: for moving said hammer toward and away from said mandrel for pressing together saidhooks to produce a-side seam for the body, a pad friction-. all-y mounted for reciprocal: movement on a lateral portion of saidbumping hammer for engaging the body adjacent its overlapping hook andfor shitting-said hook. radially inwardly into lateral alignment with said. first. mentionedhook,

expanding means-in saidmandrel for interengage mg said hooksprior. to the pressing of. the. hooks;

by. said hammer, and stationary means disposed adjacent the path oftravel of said; hammer and engageable with said pad, during retraction of said hammer from its hook pressing position, to reset said pad for asubsequent hook shifting operation. ALAN EWAR'I' ADAMSON.

REFERENCES CITED The. following references are of record in the file of: this patent: UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Date .Kruse ..Jan. 4, 19.49. 

